Type-writing machine.



4 S. T. SMITH. 'rYPE wanmemcmue.

APPLICATION FILED HOV- 22| I913.

- v Patented Aug. 31,1915.

IN VENTOR:

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE.

STEPHEN 1. SMITH, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Application filed November 22, 1913.

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that I, STEPHEN T. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TypelVritin Machines, of which the following is a speci cation.

This invention relates to typewriting machines, and particularly to means for increasing the capacity of the machine for writing a variety of characters.

According to this invention, a paper carriage is shiftable from one set of types to another set, each' set having its own keys. The type sets may be placed side by side, and the carriage may run upon a multiple.- length track, which enables it to cooperate with either set of types at the will of the operator. Thus the number of types for use with a single paper carriage may be cloubled, and the capacity of the machine for writing a variety of types increased accordingly. For instance, one set of types or keys could be such as are ordinarily employed for writing the English language, and the other set of types or keys could be used for writing Greek 'or another language; or both sets of types could be English, one being a roman style, and the other being an italic style, so that the user of the machine could emphasize words by shifting the paper carriage over to the other side of the machine, and writing words in italics. Or one keyboard could be devoted to a standard language, such as English, German, French, Spanish, etc., while the other side could have both a Greek alphabet and another alphabet, or perhaps a set of special characters. If it be desired to use the machine for writin g Japanese, one keyboard could be devoted to characters used in writing names, while the other keyboard could be devoted to special characters used in. any branch of business. I

In the preferred mannerof carrying out the invention. there may be employed two Underwood front-strike machines, which may be placed. side by side and fixed to gether, the usual carriage tracks being re placed by multiple lcngth front and rear rails; and a single carriage may run on said rails and be movable from one part of the double machine to the other. The invention Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 31, 1915,

Serial No. 802,337.

operation'with any desired set of types. I

, Each-set of types may thereforebe provided with its own keyboard, its own ribbon mechanism, including the usual Underwood ribbon-vibrator, and its own carriage-es capement devices, which cooperate with the escapement rack upon the carriage. Each keyboard may also have its own shift-key mechanism for writing upper and lower case characters; and although this shift-key mechanism usually employs a shift rail to lift the platen of the typewriter, still the platenirame roll which is engaged by said shift rail does not ordinarily rest upon the rail, but occupies a position. a trifle above the same; so that the carriage may be trans ferred from one type system to the other in dependently of the shift rails, when both of the latter are in their lower positions,or both in their upper positions; in which positions they may be held by the usual shiftlock mechanism. Each section of the multiple machine may also be provided with the usual back'spacer, and generally with other typewriting appurtenances, so that when the operator is using the carriage with either set of types, he may operate in the same manner as with an ordinary machine.

In the present instance, the left-hand margin gage is employed at the left-hand of one type system, and the right-hand margin gage is employed at-the right-hand of the other type system, thisprovision bemg useful for ordinary' purposes; other margin-gage devices being preferably omit ted to permit the carriage to be shifted from one type system to the other.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective plan of one form oi multiple keyboard and type-system machine made in accordance with the present invention. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show different varieties of types which may be used in the Fig. 1 -machine. Fig.2) is a sectional elevation taken about central-1y of either of the main portions of the machine seen at Fig.1.. 1"

In practising the invention in the form illustrated, the frameworks 1, 2 of two Underwood front-strike typewriting machines may be rigidly secured by fasteners 2, Fig. 5, upon a common base 3; and they may also be rigidly joined by a rear carriage rail 4 and a. front carriage rail or structure 5, each of which rails extends unbrokenly from the left-hand endof the frame 1 to the righthand end of frame 2, each forming a single multiple-length track. Upon these rails may travel a carriage 6, which is an Underwood typewriter carriage of the usual con struction.- This carriage has front rolls 6 to run in the'groo've of track 5, and collars 6 toclasp rear guide-rail 4. The carriage usually has a feed rack 7, releasable by a key 8, and normally in mesh with a pinion 9, which is connected to an esca'pement wheel 10, the latter operable by type keys 11; said keys being mounted on levers 12 and connected by sub-levers 13 to type bars 14, which have heels 15 to thrust backwardly' a universal bar 16, mounted on idle links 17 and adapted to strike a dog rocker 18, which controls the movements of the es? capement wheel 10.

Assuming that the paper carriage or platen-carriage 6 is in the right-hand writing-field, as seen at Fig. 1, the operator manipulates the keys 11- to strike the types 19 upwardly and rearwardly against a platen 20, and the )laten-carriage feeds along step.

by-step in t e usual manner; the ribbon 21 being mounted upon the usual spools 22 and operating in the usual manner. The operation of writmg may proceed in the same 'manner as usual with typewriting machines;

and ifat any time the operator wishes to use the types 23 in the left-hand system (which may be italics, for example), he depresses the carriage-release key 8, and then shifts the carriage along the front and rear tracks 5, 4, until the index 21. on the carriage (which has heretofore been coopcr ating with scale 25), coliperates with scale 26 on the frame 1; the rack 7 becoming dis- 7 bars in the frame 2 may be made special and rality of revolutions, is able to propel the carriage for its letter-feeding movements throughout its range of travel.on the long rails 4, 5.- The carriage now feeds under the control of the keys 28, in the same mannet as it formerly made letter-feeding move- At Fig. 2 is shown a t e W, munthereon characters in two languages 33 and 35, either of which may be called into use by a shift key 35 and all of the type bars 36 in this frame may have such type characters as are seen at 33 and 31, one set of characters being 011 the uppcr-case shift, and the other set of characters being on the lowercase shift. ()r all of the type bars 36, as at Fig. 3, may be provided with upper-case and lower-case italic types, to match the roman characters on the type bars 11 seen at Fig.- 4. The shiftkeys 35', 37 in the two keyboards are for temporary use, either of them lifting .up the platen 20 and platen frame 38, and each key being held depressed by the finger while the operator manipulates the type keys. The keyboards are also provided with permanent or looking shiftkeys 39, 40, which lock the platen and platen frame "in the upper shift position; and as already explained, the paper carriage may be adjusted freely back and forth between the two keyboards when both shift keys 39,40 are either down or up, without liability of the shift roll 41 on the platen frame striking against the end of either of the shift rails 42, which are controlled by thev keys 35, 37, 39, 40; a part of the con- I ction between said shift rail and the keys being seen at 43. .At the right of the right- .hand frame 2 is the usual adjustable margin gage 44 for limiting the return stroke of the carriage, and determining the beginning of a new line. The usual left-hand margin gage is omitted from the frame 2, in order to permit the shifting of the carriage (5 across to the frame 1; and the usual right-hand margin gage is omitted from the frame 1 for the same reason. Frame 1, however, carries 'the usual adjustable left-hand' margin gage 45 for ringing the bell and locking the keys. If desired, the left-hand keyboard may write the standard language, so that the operator can have the advantage of the' use of the margin gage 45 for the bulk of his work, and the keyboard and type hence infrequently used, so that the omisslon of the left-hand margin gage Wlll not "be an objection; and in this case the usual ments under the control of the esca'pement eral, each section of the machine, when cowheel 10 and keys 11; said wheel 10, how-\ operating with carriage 6, may be a comever, being motionless while the carriage is under the control of escanement wheel 31.

plete typewriter in itself.

Variations may be resorted to within the all) scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, l claim: 7

1. A typewriting machine comprising a plurality of keyboards, a plurality of systems of alphabetical types, the types in one system being cunerz-ible independently of those in the other system, and a paper-carrier adjustable to coiiperate with either typesystem.

2. A typewriting machine comprising a plurality of type-systems, each system having its individual printing center, and the types in. one system being operable inde pendently of those in the other system, and a paper-carriage adjustable to either printinn center.

3. The combination of a plurality of typesystems, the types in one system being characteristically jtlitl'erent from the types in the other system? the types in each of the sysmounted to print at a common point, and the types in one system being operable independently of those in the other system, and a platen, having a single printing field, adjusiable to enable its printing field to cooperate with either type system.

'ihe combination of a plurality of typesystems, each having its own printing point, and the types in one system being operable independently of the types in the other system, and a platen adjustable to coiiperate with either type-system, said platen having letter-feeding movements when in cooperatire relation with either type-system.

5, A typewriting machine comprising, a plurality of keyboards, a plurality of typesysiems operatively associated with said keyboards, the types in each system directly operable independently of one another .by the keys in the associated keyboard, and the types in one system being operable inde pendently of the types in the other system, a paper-carriage, and a track along which the paper-carriage may move to enable it ho cooperate with either type-system.

6. typewriting machine comprising a plurality of keyboards, a plurality of sets of types individually operable by ths' keys in said keyboards, the types in each ,set being' operable independently oif those in the other set, a paperbarriage, a track along Which the paper-carnage may move to enable it to cooperate with either set of types,

' and a spring for propelling said carriage throughout its range of travel relatively to both sets of types.

7.. A typewriting machine comprising a plurality of type-systems, a keyboard for each type-system, the types in each system being individually operable independently of the types in the other system, a paper carriage, a spring-to propel said carriage throughout its range oftravel along both characters sets of types, each having its own printing 7 center, the types in each set being individually operable independently of the types in the other set, a platen, a carriage to enable relative shifting between the platen and the type-sets, to enable the platen to cooperate with either set of types to the exclusion of the other set, said carriage having letterfeeding movements when in coiiperative relation to each set of types, and two inking ribbons, one for each set of types, each ribbon being actuable at the individual operations of the types in its associated set and independently of the other ribbon.

9. 'A typewriting machine comprising two frames, two type-operating mechanisms, each including a keyboard, one type-operating mechanism in each frame, a carriage, and a carriage track along which said carriage is shiftable from a position to co operate with one type mechanism to a posi tion to cooperate with the other type mechanism, said carriage having letter-feeding movements when in coiiperative relation to either typesystem, and said track joining said frames to permit the carriage while coiiperating with one type mechanism to run over onto the other frame, whereby compactness of structure is secured; each type mechanism comprising types operable individually and independently of the types of the other type mechanism.

10. A typcwriting machine, comprising a plurality of keyboards; a plurality of type- "systcms, one for each keyboard, the types in each system having upper and lower case I and being individually operable by their connected keyboard independently of the types in the other system; and a paper-carrier adjustable to cooperate with either type-system, said paper-carrier having letter-feeding and case-shifting movements when in cooperative relation to each system of types.

11. A typewriting machine, comprising a plurality of keyboards; a plurality ofitypesystems, one for each keyboard, the type in each system having upper and lower case characters and being individually operable by their connected keyboards independently of the types in the other system; a carriage adjustable from a position to cooperate with only one of said type-systcms, to a position to cooperate with only the other type-system, said 7 movements when in cooperative relation to either type-system; a platen frame carriage; and a platen mounted in, saw,

carriage having letter-feeding .frame, said frame having case-shifting 12 A typewriting machine, comprising a.

plurality of keyboards; a plurality of typesystems, one for each keyboard; a papercarrier adjustable to cooperate with either type-system, said paper-carrier having lettor-feeding movements when in cooperative relation to either type-system; a separate lettei feeding scale associated with each typo-system; and a single indexing device on said paper-carrier to cotiperate with both scales.

13. A typewriting machine provided with a system of types for one-language, a system of types for a (lilierent language, the types in each system being individually impressible independently of the types in the other system, each system having its own printing center, a carriage shiftable for bringing either system into use at will in writing a single line, and two sets of keys, one for each of said systems of types.

1.4. In a typewriting machine, thecombination with a plurality of type systems, each having its own printing point or center, of

a laten movable into positions to cooperate with either type system, and a letter-feeding mechanism for each type system, each let-' *er-feeding mechanism operable to efl'ect let-- -'-feed movements of the carriage while in wiipei-litive relation to its type system, and .noperative to control the carriage whlle the latter is' in type s stem.

15. n a typewriting machine, the combination with a plurality of type systems, each having its own printing point or center, of a, keyboard for each type system, a platen movable into positions to coiiperate type systems alternatively, and an individual letter-feeding mechanism for each keyboard operable to effect letter-space movements of the carria e when in cooperation with the correspon ing type system.

16. A typewriting machine comprising a plurality of keyboards, a plurality of type systems, a paper carriage, a multiple length track along which the paper carriage may move to enable it to cooperate with either type system, a letter-feeding mechanism actuated by the keys of one keyboard to effect letter-feed movements of the carriage when in cooperative relation to the type system operated by said keys, and a letter-feed mechanism operable by the keys of the other keyboard to elfectletter-feed movements of the carriage when in coiiperative relation to the other type system. y

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination with machine frames mounted side by side, each frame having mounted there-- on a type system and a keyboard oomprisin a set of keys for actuating the types oi'sai cooperative relation to the other with the atteo system, of a. multiple length track extending tending across said frames, 21 ape'r carriage mounted on said track mova le therealong into cooperative relation to either ty e system, and letter feed mechanisms each individually operable by the keys of one set to control the letter-feed advance of the carriage while in cooperative relation to the corresponding type system, and inoperative to control the carriage while the latter is in operative relation to the other type system.

19. The combination with a plurality of type systems, of a carriage movable into 00- operative relation to either type system, a letter-feed rack on said carriage, and a separate escapcment mechanism associated with each type system, each of said escapement mechanisms comprising a inion to engage said rack and control the a Vance of the carsociated with each type system, each escapement mechanism comprising a pinion running in'mcsh with said rack and controlling the letter-feed movements of the carriage while in cooperative relation to the corresponding type system, said rack being be yond the range of one pinion while in driving relation to the other pinion.

31. A typmvriting machine comprising a plurality of keyboards, a plurality of type systems operable in alternation, and a paper carrier adjustable to cooperate with either type system, the paper carrier throughout its range of movement in coiiperat-ive relation to either type system being out of cooperative relation to the other type system.

22. In a typewrlting machine, the combination with a plurality of separately mounted type systems each having its own printing centenone, type system being remote from the other and each type system operable independently of the other, of a platen, means, including a carriage, to enable said platen to ter-feeding means to control said carriage while said platen is cooperating with said type systems.

23. The combination of two alphabetical type systems, each system having its own separate printing point and each type-system operable independently of the other, a carriage movable to bring either system into play, and means for letter-feeding the carriage when writing each alphabet.

24. The combination of two systems of alphabetical types, said systems placed side by side and each. having its own separate printing point and each type-system operable independently of the other, a carriage movable from side to side to bring either alphabet into use, and means for feeding the carriage When'each type system is being used.

25. The combination of a plurality of alphabetical type systems placed side by side and each having its own separate printing point andeach type-system operable independently of the other, a carriage, a multiple-length track for said carriage, and let ter-feedin'g'means cooperative with said carriage when each system is being used.

26. The combination of a plurality of alphabetical type systems placed side by side and each having its own separate printing point, a carriage, a multiple-length track for saidcarriage, letter-feeding means cooperative with said carriage when each system is being us'ed,and a plurality of separate keyboards.

27. The combination of two systems of types, one for one language, and the other for another language, acarriage shiftable in the general direction of its letter-feeding movements, to bring either system of types into use, and letter-feeding means to co operate with said carriage when each languageis being written. 1

28. The combination of two front-strike writing mechanisms placed side by side and fixed together and having a single carriage, multiple-length front and rear rails connecting said mechanisms and supporting said carriage, and letter-feeding means to cotiperatewithsaid carriage; each of said mechanisms operable independently of the other."

29. A multiple typewriting machine comprising a plurality of separated type-systems, carriage tracks of sufficient length to permit the carriage to be shifted into cooperation with any desired set of types, and means for letter-feeding the carriage at the operation of the types.

30. A multiple typewriting machine comprising a plurality of separated type sys tems, a carriage, carriage tracks of sullicient i length to permit the'carniage to be shifted into joperation' with any desired set or types, and letter-feeding means having cooperation W'th all the types; each set of types havin its own ribbon mechanism and it's own carriage escapement devices.

A multiple typewriting machine comprising a plurality of separated type-systems, a carriage, carriage-feeding devices, and carriage tracks of sufficient length to permit the carriage to be shifted into cooperation with any desired set of types, each I5 set of types having its separate keyboard, l251d each keyboard also having its own shift 32 The combination of two front-strike writing machines placed side by side and fixed together, a single carriage, multiplelength front and rear rails connecting said machines and supporting said carriage,,letterifeeding devices for cooperating with said carriage, to enable it to cooperate with each of said machines, a left-hand margin gage for the left-hand type system, and a right hand margin gage for the other type system. 33. The combination of two keyboards, two sets of alphabetical types, a platen mov-- able into position to cooperate with either set of types, and two letter-feeding mechanisms for said platen, the latter being controllable by eitherletter-feeding mechanism independently of the other. a

34. The combination of two keyboards, two sets of alphabetical types, a platen, a carriage for etlecting relative movement between said platen and said sets of types, to enable either set to coiiperate with said 100 platen, a letter-feeding escapement mechanism operable by one of said keyboards, and a letter-feeding cscapement mechanism operable by the other of said keyboards, the

carriage being controllable by either escapement mechanism independently of the-other.

A typewriting machine comprising a plurality of keyboards, a plurality of sets of alphabetical types, the types in one set being operable independently of and characteristically different from those in the other set, a platen, a carriage shiftable to enable either set of types to coiiperatc with said platen, and devices operable by the keyboards to control the relative letterdecding movement between the platen and the typesets.

36. A typewriting machine comprising a plurality of keyboards, the keys in one keyboard bearing characters characteristically different from those in the other keyboard,

a plurality of sets of types, one set for each of said keyboards, the types in each set capable of being individually impressed indeplaten, and a carriage shiftable to enable either set of types to coiipcrate withsaid platen, said carriage havin letter-feeding "movements during its period of coiiperation with the types in each of said sets. 13o

37, A typewriting machine, comprising a plurality of keyboards, each including a shift key, said shift keys being operable 'independently of each other; a plurality of type-systems, one for each keyboard, the types in each system including characters brought into use at a case-shifting operation, and being operable individually andindependently of the types in the other system; and a paper-carrier adjustable to no operate with either type-system and having case-shifting movements controlled by the corresponding shift key during its period of cooperation with either type-system.

38. A typewriting machine, comprising a plurality of keyboards, each includ ng a shift key, said shift keys being operable independently of each other; a plurality of type-systems, one for each' key-board, the

frame, said types in each system including characters brought intouse at av case-shitting operation, and being operable individually and independently of the types in the other system; a carriage shiftable from a posi-,

tion to cooperate with only one of said typesystems to a position to cooperate only with the other type-system; a platen frame on said carriage; and a platen mounted in'said frame having case-shifting movements controlled by the corresponding shiftkey during the period of cooperation of saidcarriage with either type-system.

39. A typewriting"machine provided" with a system of type-bars having typcs for one language, all mounted to strike at a single impression point, a second system of typebars l'iavii-ig types for a different language,

all mounted to strike at another impression point, and shiftable means for bringing either system of typc-bars into use at will in writing a single line; the type-bars in each system operable independently of those in the other system. i 40. A typcwriting machine comprising in combination a plurality of type-systems, each system having its indiiiidual printing cen-f tor, the types in one system being operable trol the carriage; said carriage having a sininde 'iendcntly of the types in the other sys- I t'ein, a plurality of kcyj bjoards, one/for each type-system, a papeiw rriage adjustable to either printing center. and letter-feeding mechanisms individuallto the two type-systoms, and operable by said keyboards to control the carriage.

-. 41. A typewrit ng machine comprising in v combination a pluralityol' type-systems, each system having its individual printing center, the types 1110110 system being operable 111 dependently of the types in the other system, a plurality of keyboards, one for each type-system, a paper-carriage adjustablc'to either printing center, and letter-feeding mechanisms individual to the two type-systems, and operable by said keyboards to congle rack for coaction with eitner of said letter-feeding mechanisms.

42. A typewritiiig machine comprising in combination a plurality of type-systems, each system having its individual printing center. the types in one system being operable independently of the types in the other system, a plurality of keyboards, one for each type-system, a paper-carriage ad ustable to either printing center, and letterfeeding mechanisms individual to the two type-systems, and operable by said key-K system, said paper-carrier having letterfeeding movements when in cooperative relation to either type-system.

M. A typewritingmachine, comprising a plurality of keyboards; a plurality of systems of alphabetical types, one for each keyboard, each system having its individual printing center, the types .in each system having upper and lower case characters and being operable by their connected keyboard independently ofthe types in" the other system; and a paper-carrier adjustable to cooperate with either type-system, said papercarrier having letter-feeding and case-shift.

ing movements when in cooperative relation to either type-system.-

45. typewriting machine, comprising a plurality of type-systems, each system havingits individual printing center and the types in one system being operable inde. pendently o'f th ose in the other system; and a paper-carriage. adjustable to either printning center, said paper-carriage having letter-feeding movements when in cooperative relationto the types in either system.

46; A ty'pewriting machine, plurality o fkeyboards; a plurality of, typesystems,.the types in one system being operable independently of those in the other system; paper-carrier adjustable to cooperate with either type-system; and mechanism said paper-carrierduringits period of cooperation with either typesystem.

47. A typewriting machine, comprising a plurality of keyboards; a plurality of typesystems, the a types in each systemghaving' upper and lower case characters'and the types in either system being operable indecomprising a for effecting letter-feeding inovementsdof pendently of those in the other system; asaid paper-carrier during its period of copaper-carrier adjustable to coperate With operation with either type-system.

either type-system and having case-shifting STEPHEN T. SMITH. movements during its period of coperation Witnesses:

5 with either type-system; and mechanism TITUS H. IRONS,

for efiecting letter-feeding movements of JULIUS. DUCKSTINE. 

